The Molentargius-Saline Regional Nature Park is located in southern Sardinia near two of Sardinia’s largest cities, Cagliari and Quartu Sant’Elena, within an urban area in which some 400,000 inhabitants live. Before becoming a regional nature park, the site was recognized by the Ramsar Convention in 1977 as a wetland of international value for the presence of bird life. It includes freshwater basins (Bellarosa Minor and Perdalonga), saltwater basins (Bellarosa Major or Molentargius and coastal basins including Quartu Pond) and a sandy plain (Is Arenas). Endemic species and elements of flora on the Red List of Endangered Plants are present. Along the access road to the Park and Salt Pans is the industrial building of Selected Salts. The building constructed in the 1930s was used to purify salt for food use. The subject of restoration work, it has become the headquarters of the park management. Within the park there are also several artifacts belonging to fortifications and defensive systems of historical interest.
